Renew Manitoba work permits

AI summary

Petitioners ask Canada to table Manitoba’s request and renew temporary Manitoba work permits for two years for workers of good character. The government responds it created a Manitoba bridge policy issuing open permits until 2027.

AI summaries describe petitioners’ requests and claims. Consult the official record for the full text.

Official petition

Petition to the House of Commons of Canada WHEREAS: 1. Immigration and the need for temporary workers varies across Canada; 2. The Government of Manitoba has indicated that they desire to see temporary workers be allowed to stay and continue employment here in Manitoba. 3. The temporary workers in question would include individuals that currently have status in one of three categories including, a valid working visa that will be expiring in 2026, a working visa application that is in implied status and an individual who has properly filed for a restoration of a working visa. We, the undersigned, residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to: 1. Table in Parliament the Province of Manitoba's formal request which would include an estimated total number of extensions for the above three mentioned categories or provide the formal request to all 14 Members of Parliament representing Manitoba. 2. Upon a formal detailed request by the Province of Manitoba, allow Manitoba temporary workers to have their respective working visas be renewed for a minimum of two years, just like the public policy came in 2024, if the worker has been of good behavior and character.

Government response

Response by the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Signed by Peter Fragiskatos, M.P. The Government of Canada remains committed to attracting the global talent needed to grow Canada’s economy while ensuring that immigration supports long-term, sustainable benefits for Canadians. The Government of Canada recognizes that temporary workers play an important role in addressing immediate labour market needs and contributing to Canada's prosperity, particularly where there are demonstrated gaps in the domestic workforce. In this context, the Government of Canada is working towards responsibly managing the overall temporary resident population and reducing admissions to more sustainable levels. This reflects the Government of Canada’s mandate to restore balance to the immigration system and maintain public confidence, while continuing to meet economic and labour market objectives. The Government of Canada works closely with provinces and territories, communities, and labour stakeholders to attract and retain skilled temporary workers to fill critical occupations and transition to permanent residence. The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) remains a core regional economic immigration pathway for qualified candidates with in-demand skills. The Manitoba PNP allows the Government of Manitoba to select immigrants to meet local labour market needs. The Government of Canada recognizes the province’s efforts to focus on retaining existing workers through the Manitoba PNP, as they have gained valuable in-province experience. As immigration is a shared jurisdiction, the Government of Canada will continue to work with Manitoba to support its economic priorities and ensure the Manitoba PNP remains a responsive immigration pathway that supports the transition of skilled temporary residents to permanent residence. The government understands the current petition is seeking federal work permit facilitation to allow workers to remain employed while pursuing permanent residence through the Manitoba PNP. To that end, on July 6, 2026, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada signed the “Manitoba Workforce Transition Bridge Public Policy,” which provides eligible workers with access to an open work permit while they pursue permanent residence through the Manitoba PNP. The public policy is limited to workers previously identified and assessed as strong permanent resident candidates under the Manitoba PNP in 2024 and 2025, some of whom will have work permits expiring in 2026. The public policy will facilitate eligible candidates with valid work permits, expired work permits and those on maintained (implied) status who are also seeking restoration of temporary resident status. The policy will remain in effect until the end of 2027 and will support up to 2 700 workers who were identified under earlier versions of the measure. The province is expected to nominate these individuals for permanent residence through its PNP by December 31, 2027. In addition, it is important to reiterate that Canada’s temporary work entry programs, the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program and the International Mobility Program (IMP), remain available to support Canadian employers and institutions with labour and talent needs. The TFW Program is designed to be responsive to labour market conditions and uses a focused approach that targets specific strategic sectors and needs in specific regions. It is a program to be used only when Canadians are genuinely not available. Workers already in Canada may extend their work permits if they meet program eligibility under either the IMP or the TFW Program. The Government of Canada also encourages employers to access existing non-permanent residents in Canada to complement its domestic workforce and to meet remaining workforce needs. As of March 2026, there were approximately 1.53 million non-permanent residents with open work permits as asylum claimants, under humanitarian public policies, the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program, International Experience Canada, and as spouses of students and temporary workers. Open work permit holders are eligible to work across Canada and for any employer.